shepherds

There really ought to be pictures. There is a short video, which will be available on Facebook as soon as I can get through my last class at Durham University, tomorrow. 

Thomas performed in his first nativity play last Thursday evening--as a shepherd. One of the fun things about being in Durham has been Catholic school. (Because the school system is organized quite differently, the government supports religious schools; so we are able to have a free, Catholic education for Thomas. And, if we're still here, for Iain.) So the school Christmas performance involved the Christmas story, sung and acted by the 5-, 6-, and 7-year-olds.

It was every bit as cute as you'd expect, with the angel Gabriel played by the tallest girl in class (whom Thomas thinks he'll marry), with brilliant, dark red hair and just the right sort of wings. Mary wore the requisite blue dress and wandered around with Joseph in the usual manner, looking for a place to stay. And she didn't drop the baby, either. They sang 'Away in a Manger' and all seemed 'fit for heaven' already, as they sang the last verse. 

So this weekend it seemed appropriate to find the boxes of Christmas decorations, which we did. And get a tree, which we also did. This morning, I arranged the lights and rearranged the lights, until the two strands we had looked like enough. Then I wrapped our translucent gold garland round the tree, over and over until it hung just right. Lewis wandered in at about that time, and commented on its appearance, describing the garland as 'diaphanous'. 'You know what I mean?' he asked rhetorically. 'Yes,' I said, and a split second later Thomas chimed in, 'well, I don't.' 

I suddenly remembered why I like having children.